It was five years ago that Jim Yost was being called to the other side. He suffered a massive stroke on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 15. Keep our precious Laurie in prayer as she treads through these days. She has diligently practiced James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw new to you” and has found Him faithful over and over and may she do so these days as well.
I am thoughtful of our nation these days as today is the day Francis Scott Key penned the words,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
But, let’s back up to 9/11 first. We were unable to be at the Pentagon Memorial this past Wednesday as the President was there for a private ceremony, so we went Sunday afternoon, 9/8. As we approached we could see the lighter colored blocks where the repairs to the building were made. The memorial itself is impactful. There are benches facing toward the Pentagon with the names of those who died in the Pentagon and benches facing westward with the names of those killed in Flight 77. I sat on one of the benches and contemplated the last 20 to 30 minutes of panic that consumed those riding that doomed ship. An entire family was killed with the youngest being age 3 – think about the agony, fright, and panic of that mother. It is heartrending!
On Sept. 12, 1944, the first American troops set foot into Germany. Yeah – we were winning!
On Sept. 13, 1951, the assault of Heartbreak Ridge began in Korea. It was a bitter battle and there were 3,700 casualties.
Then today, 1814, when the dawn’s first light revealed the Flag was still there! The horrific British bombardment had not brought about a surrender! The Flag meant SO much to Francis and it should mean much to us (on Monday we were at the Marine Memorial just west of Arlington Cemetery that features a bronze statue of the raising of our Flag over Iwo Jima, which happened Feb. 23, 1945).
Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were murdered in a church bombing in Birmingham, AL. How ugly and evil that was! Its evil helped the cause of the black community to become equal citizens under the law.
Sept. 16, 1920, there were 30 killed in a terrorist bombing in NYC Wall Street district – in 1920!
Then Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was finished. That document, unlike any before and none since unless copied from it, has been nothing short of amazing. We are so, so blessed to live in a land under the rule of law and that law was so well formulated – including the Electoral College idea!
From Wikipedia: Of the thirty-nine signers, Benjamin Franklin summed up, addressing the Convention: “There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them.” He would accept the Constitution, “because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best”.
a PK Musing 
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